Cyber Monday: A Marketing Creation

On the Monday after Thanksgiving, retailers are keen to sell a lot of stuff. Including, it appears, the idea that there’s something inherently special about the day.

It’s a well-established tradition that the day after Thanksgiving is “Black Friday”, with many retailers (particularly of electrical goods) selling goods cheaply. While waiting in line from the early hours may seem crazy, the existence of the sales at least makes sense: many Americans who have a rare weekday holiday want to get away from relatives who’ve outstayed their welcome, and with Turkey Day over, are ready to begin the countdown to Christmas.

But the idea that Cyber Monday represents the online equivalent may be overhyped. As CNN points out today, the phrase only dates back five years and was created for use in a press release by Shop.org, a trade association of online retailers.

The only real evidence in that release of a claim was that 77% of online retailers reported a substantial increase in online sales on the day, though it wasn’t said what this was in comparison with. And the explanation for this rise? Apparently shoppers waited until they got back to work to sneak a few minutes on broadband connections in the office to do their shopping, rather than on dial-up modems at home.

That’s a kind explanation, albeit one that’s looking shakier five years of broadband take-up later. To be fair, retailers can’t really admit that any pattern is more likely a case of people being so dejected at returning to the office after four days of overindulgence that bargain hunting is more appealing than spreadsheets.

In reality, though, Cyber Monday isn’t *that* big a deal. Most of the figures touted as evidence of the day bringing an annual boost to sales are simply comparing one Cyber Monday with its predecessor, not with other days of the year.

CNN quotes internet traffic monitoring and analysis firm ComScore as saying that usually Cyber Monday is in the lower regions of the top 10 days for visits to online retailers. Last year was an exception (it placed second for the year), which appears to be a case of economic confidence being so low that people really were showing unusual levels of bargain hunting.

Of course, that they thought to do so on the Monday after Thanksgiving suggests the marketing phrase may have become a self-fulfilling prophecy.


10 Gifts for the Geeky Gal Under $50

If you’re like me, thinking about gifts this season is a little stress-inducing. While the recession is technically over, here in the states, many of us are still feeling the crunch. And while I like to try and make most of the gifts we give during the holidays, that’s not always practical. The truth is, time these days is about as scarce as unobtanium.

Avatar reference aside, rather than going blue in the face this holiday, rest easy. I’ve compiled a list of 10 gifts perfect for the geeky gal in your life. Don’t be swayed by stupid commercials proclaiming every woman wants a diamond or a car. Geek girls know better. We have a sophisticated palate, tempered by years of geek immersion.

Literary action figures: I happen to believe that you can never be too old for action figures, and it certainly doesn’t matter if you’re a girl or a boy. A quick glance up at my office shelf reveals some Ninja Turtles and Hobbits. But to up the ante, there’s the Jane Austen action figure, as well as a plethora of others, including Charles Dickens and Shakespeare. There’s also a Librarian action figure, if your lady is into books as a career. For roughly $10 a pop, you don’t have to choose!

Long Underwear from L.L. Bean: Got a geek gal in your life who’s a costumer? Someone who likes the really retro look? L.L. Bean has some darling long underwear–just add a cap and slippers and she’ll be ready to re-enact Twas the Night Before Christmas. If you live in a cold climate, there’s nothing so nice as really warm, snuggly pajamas. I think these are absolutely adorable! Not to mention, kinda-sorta sexy.

Urban Decay’s Eye Potion: First, it’s a potion. And potions are awesome. So it won’t make you fly or restore your HP, but Urban Decay’s Eye Potion performs a near magical task: it prevents eyeshadow from flaking off or caking. Like me, many geek gals love dressing up, whether it’s in costume or otherwise. Spending lots of money on eyeshadows that just don’t stay on is frustrating. But for $18, this eye potion (personally tested and approved by yours truly) is honestly nothing short of a miracle. Makeup stays in place all day long, and looks fabulous. A perfect stocking stuffer! Urban Decay, in general, is one of my favorite makeup lines. You should check out their whole set of offerings for other gift ideas.

Pwn That Shower Soaps from Darkness Studios on Etsy: For whatever reason, the holidays always provide a proliferation of good smelling gifts. And soaps are usually on the top of that list. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but does everything have to come from Bath and Body Works? Through the magic of Etsy, and the curious thought processes of Etsy artist rainbowdarkness, we have soap with dice in them. Yep, d20s. Beautiful? Sure. Functional? Definitely. I don’t know about you, but I think I’d feel a little more excited about facing my day if I started off with a d20 lather. Hee hee. Also check out her potions necklaces. Tres geek chic.

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal: This is a fantastic little book. The premise is simple: what if there was magic during Jane Austen’s time? And what would her novels be like, if there was? The resulting book reads like Austen penned it herself, yet retains Kowal’s talent for character and setting. It’s witty and whimsical, a welcome departure from traditional fantasy. Plus, it’s got a good heap of romance, too.

Serenity PVC Minifigs: No, these are not action figures. But who can resist Mal, River, and Jayne together for under twenty dollars? I certainly can’t. Honestly, do I have to say more? Shiny. If you want to add to the awesome, you can always purchase the comics from Dark Horse.

Octopus Brooch from BeanDoll on Etsy: Yes, I have a problem when it comes to cephalopods. No, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. A cursory look on Etsy tells me that I’m far from alone. I’m particularly partial to this octopus brooch by BeanDoll, which seamlessly blends my love of all things tentacled with the steampunk aesthetic. Plus, it’s my favorite kind of jewelry: a pin! Not to mention it’s a total steal at $14.00.

Hermione’s Wand: Is your geeky gal Potter fan? Does she adore Ms. Granger like no other? Believe it or not, for only $35 you can buy a replica of Hermione’s wand from the Noble Collection. While this isn’t made of wood, like some of the far more expensive ones, according to the reviews it’s pretty darn impressive.

Artist’s Imagination Locket from Anthropologie: Sure, Anthropologie might not be the first place you think of for cheap or geeky. But the quirky clothing (and accessory) company has really found its way to my heart. Their unusual items often hearken to my geeky side, and this little locket is no exception. The outside looks like a landscape scene from a Jane Austen novel (and you’ll find many geek gals love our Jane Austen, see above ) and inside is a locket. The perfect blend of artistic and romantic, sure to get you a kiss or three under the mistletoe. And at $48, a very decent price point.

T-Shirts from Her Universe: I ran across the Her Universe booth when I was at Dragon*Con earlier this year, and fell in love immediately. Not only do most geek t-shirts not come in women’s sizes, but they’re just not designed with women in mind. While I can’t say that the Star Wars Prequels rank terribly high on my list, I do have to say that their Art Nouveau inspired Padme t-shirt makes me squee like an Ewok (see top picture). Gorgeous, just gorgeous. Most of their t-shirts hover around the $30 mark, and they’re both trendy and geeky. A total win in my book. Not to mention, Her Universe also looks as if it will start carrying jewelry, soon. Truly worth a stop on your holiday shopping list.

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Amazon’s Amazing Cyber Monday Deals

So right on the heel of Black Friday, here comes Cyber Monday! Here is our selection of some of the best Cyber Monday deals we’ve found.

–TomTom XXL 540M 5-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator (Lifetime Maps Edition) – $229.00 $89.99 (61% Off)

–Western Digital WD Elements 1 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive – $129.99 $60.99 (47% Off)

–HP v100w 8 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive $36.99 $13.99 (62% Off)

–Coby 4 GB Video MP3 Player with FM Radio (Blue) $45.39 $19.99 (56% Off)

–Kodak PlaySport (Zx3) HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera Bundle $189 $139 (26% Off)

–Cyber Acoustics Portable Digital Docking Speaker System (For iPods) – $49.99 $19.99 (60% Off)

–GOgroove SENSE QUAD Speaker Sound System with FM Radio and Alarm Clock for Apple iPhone and iPod – $159.99 $69.99 (56% Off)

–Altec Lansing M812 Octiv Air Wireless Speaker System with Dock for iPod – $399.95 $127.49 (68% Off)

–VIZIO 47-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV with 120Hz Smooth Motion – $599.99 (40% Off) – SOLD OUT

–Sunforce 50044 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit – $599.99 $289.99 (52% Off)

–Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy (+ Digital Copy) [Blu-ray] – $79.98 $34.49 (57% Off)

Amazon also has some amazing specials on a huge selection of Movies and TV shows right here.

You can also check out their whole Cyber Monday deal section here.

Other online shops who have Cyber Monday deals: Newegg, Tiger Direct, Apple Store, Best Buy, Shopecko.

Holiday Gift Guide: Geeky Books

When it comes to the holidays, books are my go-to gift. (All of the small children in my family know that Aunt Casey is trying to force them to read whether they like it or not.) Of course, it can sometimes be difficult to know exactly what someone’s tastes are, or even more difficult if they’re a serious bibliophile, what they’ve already read. But still, there are always the off-the-beaten path choices for the geeky reader in your life, and here are a few suggestions!

Cooking for Geeks
This book promises “real science, great hacks, and good food” – it’s a cookbook for someone who wants to be a little more creative rather than just following recipes, not to mention cultivating an interest in the science behind the process. Plus, learn how to calibrate your kitchen tools and read some interviews with researchers and food scientists! (I recommend the butternut squash soup.)

Star Trek: The Original Series 360
This recently released book is the “definitive, authorized” guide to Star Trek TOS. It covers the entire series in detail, including synopses and behind-the-scenes info. The reviews are good and the price is great for a coffee-table-ish book. This might be a great gift especially for someone who is discovering (or rediscovering) the original series because of the reboot.

Geek Dad: Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share
Written by Ken Denmead over at Wired’s GeekDad, this book is filled with ideas and instructions for DIY projects for “techie dads raising kids in their own geeky image.” So if you know someone who’s interested in making their own slip ‘n slide, or cyborg jack-o’-lanterns, or a lamp out of LEGOs, this might be an awesomely geeky present.

Threadless: Ten Years of T-shirts from the World’s Most Inspiring Online Design Community
It’s pretty common lately for popular blogs to end up with in print (like Awkward Family Photos or The Book of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks or of course Threadless is something of a different beast, being part T-Shirt shop, part design community, and all geeky win. The sample spreads look very neat, and this book might be a great gift for both the Threadless fan or graphic designer in your life.

DC Comics Encyclopedia and Marvel Encyclopedia
In the great tradition of pop culture encyclopedias, both of these cover the A-Z of comics heroes and villains, from Acrata and Agent Liberty to Zuggernaut and Zoom; and from Abomination and Absorbing Man to Zodiac and Zzzax.  The books are giant and pretty (and heavy) and great coffee table fodder.  Because though you can certainly get all of the minute detailed info on the web, these are a lot more fun to look at.

Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Box Set
Did you see the Scott Pilgrim movie? If you loved it, you’ll probably also like the books. If you hated it… well, you might still like the books, depending on why you hated it. But either way, they’re good fun for a certain geeky generation. Though they’re black-and-white manga-style paperbacks rather than glossy graphic novels, the art is great and so is the story.

Packing for Mars
Mary Roach is a fantastic, engaging author, and this is the latest in a number of nonfiction page-turners that both entertain and educate (my personal favorite is Stiff). This one is about a great classic of geeky interests – astronauts! Just what does go into preparing to go into space? And why aren’t we going to Mars yet? Particularly if you’ve ever been curious about how one goes to the bathroom in space, this is something you need to read.

Geeky Dreamboats
So this is apparently a “lavishly produced, full-color celebration of the geeks girls love to love.” Okay then! Sure, why not? They had me at Bret and Jemaine on the Tiger Beat-ish cover. I don’t even think it matters much what’s inside; this one is going to be a conversation starter on the coffee table. (Even if you’re just having serious arguments about who is the dreamiest geek ever.)

The Zombie Survival Guide
Can’t forget the classics. Because sometimes the best gift you can give to the geek in your life is the knowledge they need to fight the oncoming zombie apocalypse. Gear up!

And of course, if you’re looking for fiction ideas for the speculative fiction fan in your life, maybe you can start them off on a series they haven’t read yet – check out our lists of 5 epic science fiction book series and 5 epic fantasy book series.